Rose plant named ‘ESM R030’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘ESM R030’, characterized by its upright, long and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit and high productivity; white-colored flowers with red purple-colored margins that are typically grown as single stems; excellent postproduction longevity; and relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew and  Botrytis.

Botanical designation: Rosa hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ESM R030’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, which is commercially produced as a cut flower Rose plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ESM R030’.

The new Rose plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cut flower Rose varieties with unique and attractive flowers and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Rose plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in March, 2005 of a proprietary Rose selection identified as Line 239, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Rose selection identified as Line 51, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Rose plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador in August, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose plant by bud grafting in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador since December, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Rose plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Rose have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype of the new Rose plant may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ESM R030’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ESM R030’ as a new and distinct Rose plant:

-   -   1. Upright, long and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and high productivity.     -   3. White-colored flowers with red purple-colored margins that         are typically grown as single stems.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.     -   5. Relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew and Botrytis.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose are more vigorous than plants of         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose have larger flowers than plants of         female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose and the female parent selection differ         in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have         coral pink-colored flowers.     -   4. Plants of the new Rose are more tolerant to Botrytis than         plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose are more vigorous and larger than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose have larger flowers than plants of         male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose and the male parent selection differ         in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have         yellow and orange bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of Rose ‘Sweetness’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador, plants of the new Rose differed from plants of ‘Sweetness’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose were more productive than plants of         ‘Sweetness’.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose had longer internodes than plants of         ‘Sweetness’.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose had smaller leaflets than plants of         ‘Sweetness’.     -   4. Plants of the new Rose had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Sweetness’.     -   5. Plants of the new Rose flowered later than plants of         ‘Sweetness’.     -   6. Plants of the new Rose and ‘Sweetness’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Sweetness’ had light red-colored flowers.     -   7. Flowers of plants of the new Rose were longer lasting than         flowers of plants of ‘Sweetness’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rose plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Rose plant.

The photograph at the left of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering stem of ‘ESM R030’.

The photographs at the lower left and upper right of the sheet are close-up views of typical flowers of ‘ESM R030’.

The photographs at the bottom right of the sheet are close-up views of the upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘ESM R030’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 10-liter containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in El Quinche, Pichincha, Ecuador and under typical hydroponic Rose production practices. Plants were pinched about 13 to 14 weeks after planting. Plants were 142 weeks old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 16° C. and light levels ranged from 800 to 1,200 foot-candles. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida ‘ESM R030’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Rosa hybrida identified Line 239, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Rosa hybrida identified Line 51, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By bud grafting.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About seven to ten days at 26° C. to             30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four to five             weeks at 22° C. to 26° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; close to             N199B in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright, long and             strong flowering stems; typically grown as a single-stem cut             flower; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit; highly             productive with about 10.8 to 12 flowering stems developing             per plant per year.         -   Plant height.—About 150 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 54.8 cm.         -   Lateral branches (peduncles).—Length: About 81 cm. Diameter:             About 7 mm. Internode length: About 6.1 cm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; older stems, woody. Color: Between 137A and 147A.             Thorns: Density: Medium density. Shape: Triangular with             sharp acuminate apices; slightly incurved. Height: About             1 cm. Length, at base: About 8 mm. Color, immature: Close to             183A. Color, mature: Close to 175A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with typically five to             seven leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 18.5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 13.7 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 6.8 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 5.8 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             146A tinted with close to N199B. Developing leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 146B tinted with close to N199B. Fully             expanded leaflets, upper surface: Between 147A and 139A;             venation, close to 146C. Fully expanded leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles, leaves.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture, upper surface: Prickly. Texture, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Between             146A and 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.         -   Petioles, leaflets.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Texture, upper surface: Prickly. Texture, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Between             146A and 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.         -   Stipules.—Arrangement and appearance: Two, adnate to the             petiole, leafy in appearance. Length: About 2.8 cm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Truncate. Margin: Serrate; glandular. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; membranous. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Symmetrical rosette             flowers; flowers typically grown as single stems; flowers             face upright.         -   Flowering season.—Plants of the new Rose flower year-round             under greenhouse conditions; early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about 72 days after pinching; in the garden,             optimal flowering from spring through autumn; flowering             intermittent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About four weeks; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—Excellent postproduction             longevity, flowers last about 12 to 15 days.         -   Fragrance.—Very faintly fragrant, pleasant.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 6 cm. Diameter:             About 4 cm. Color: Close to 144A tinted with close to N199D.         -   Petals.—Quantity: About 30 per flower; petals imbricate.             Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 6.3 cm. Shape: Nearly             round; transversely ovate. Apex: Blunt to shortly acute.             Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; papery to coriaceous. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Between 26C and 31C; basal             spot, between 6A to 3B. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 160C and 8C; towards the base, close to 5B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 157C; towards the margin, close to             60B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 157D; towards the             margin, close to 53B.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity: About five; petaloids whorled. Length:             Variable. Width: Variable. Shape: Irregularly shaped. Apex:             Blunt to shortly acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire or             uneven. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             papery to coriaceous. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 168C; towards the base, close to             160B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to             29D and 170D; towards the base, close to 2A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl. Length: About 5.6 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape:             Roughly deltoid. Apex: Tapered. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire; glandular. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Leathery. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 146B.             When opening, lower surface: Between 144A and 146B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Between 146B and 145B. Fully opened,             lower surface: Between 146B and 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 181 per             flower. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.             Anther color: Between 17A and 160A. Filament color: Close to             160B. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 163A. Pistils: Quantity: About 328 per flower.             Pistil length: About 1.4 cm. Stigma shape: Broadly reniform.             Stigma color: Close to 160B. Style length: About 1 cm. Style             color: Close to 150D tinted with close to 180C. Receptacle             height: About 1.4 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 1.1 cm.             Receptacle shape: Cup-shaped. Receptacle texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Receptacle color: Close to 146A. Fruits: Quantity             per flower: One. Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 2.7 cm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N167B and 151A             tinted with close to 44A. Seeds: Quantity per fruit: About             10.6. Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Between 160B and 151B. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew and Botrytis.     Plants of the new Rose have not been observed to be resistant to     pests and other pathogens common to Rose plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Rose have been observed to     tolerate temperatures ranging from 0° C. to 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘ESM R030’ as illustrated and described. 